Hand to clay: Local artist to teach class at OCAF

Posted: Wednesday, January 07, 2009

By Lauren Peeples

Always a budding artist, Monica Jones truly discovered her talents while attending University of Georgia just a few years ago. Those talents now have been nurtured and blossomed into a passion and career she is sharing with young artists through the Oconee Cultural Arts Foundation.

"Animals, mostly rabbits, are often my subject matter," Jones said. "I throw pots (vases, cups, saucers, bowls and plates) on the wheel and alter them by sculpting onto them or painting them."

Jones describes her work as simple and lighthearted. "My work is quirky, light and fun for the most part," she said. "Although, some pieces are simply beautiful and others are a bit dark."

Jones graduated from the UGA with a degree in ceramics in 2004.

"I questioned myself during my first year of college," she said. "I decided my best skills consist of creativity, design, attention to detail and appreciation of fine things. That lead me into art school, and ceramics was the first studio class I took and I became obsessed with it." Art always has been a part of Jones' life. "I've always made things to keep myself busy," she said.

"However, I didn't start thoughtfully making things until I began art school in 2000."

A native of Marietta, Jones resides in the Oglethorpe County town of Maxeys with her husband, Jamie, and their four cats and two dogs.

"I've maintained a studio in Watkinsville for four years," she said. "We have lived in Maxeys for three years in a state of perpetual-renovation on a 103-year-old house."

According to Jones, she prefers living in a small town. "I enjoy a slower pace, a warmer sense of community where I recognize faces at places I frequent," she said. "A place where people make eye-contact and smile, creating a comfortable atmosphere."

For Jones, the best part of her work is creating a product that brings enjoyment to its owners. "When my work is purchased as a gift, I'm especially honored," she said. "Ceramics also gives me the ability to make my artwork useful and that's interesting and pleasing to me."

Jones dedicates the majority of her time to her work.

"I work pretty much every day of the week making things, keeping the business side of making things and teaching other people how to make things," she said. "I keep funny hours sometimes and working weekend art festivals is quite similar to running a marathon."

According to Jones, she strives to make each piece a unique creation. "I don't think I fall in the pottery category," she said. "I enjoy using the thrown aspects of clay in an artful way and useful if possible. Each one of my pieces is a unique, handcrafted treasure."

Beth Cyr, a friend and fellow artist, has known Jones for five years. "Monica is very hardworking and dedicated," Cyr said. "She is always coming up with something new. Every time I see her there are new glazes and pieces."

Cyr finds Jones' most admirable quality is her enthusiastic attitude toward her work. "She has such an ability and talent to infuse clay with such character and personality," Cyr said. "In addition, she travels around, show after show, doing the set up and take down mostly by herself and keeps a great attitude about it."

This past summer, Jones began dedicating her time to teaching art lessons at OCAF.

"I teach children's clay classes and group clay workshops," Jones said. "I started working with their kids' summer camp program and just had so much fun." According to Jones, the OCAF studio facility provides an environment that encourages artistic creativity. "The staff and volunteers go above and beyond to accommodate visitors and members," she said. "In addition, they do tons of quality, creative and fun events to bring families and members of the community together."

Jones enjoys sharing her love for art with young people. "In college, I was a nanny for my professor's children and also taught pre-school at Emmanuel Episcopal Day School in Athens," she said. "The perfect fit for me has been teaching kids about making art with clay. It's most important to me that the kids have fun and feel proud about what they make. I encourage students to keep a sketchbook and use their skills of observation and imagination to create successful artworks."

Jones currently is dedicating her time to creating ceramic pieces including handled cups.

"The cups display little scenes with rabbits and snakes," she said. "I also have started painting on pieces of 100-year-old siding that came off our house during renovation."

The inspiration for her work comes from a variety of influences in her life. "In September, my mother was diagnosed with brain cancer," she said. "This event has influenced some of my creations, because it is a personal experience that can impact my artistic direction. My personal life and emotional state are often reflected in my artwork."

Jones' unique creations can be purchased at Krimson Kafe in Watkinsville, Home Place in Athens' Five Points and Genuine Georgia in downtown Greensboro. For more information on classes at OCAF, call (706) 769-4565. For information on Jones' artwork, call (706) 254-6228 or visit www.joneshandmadegoods.com.

Monica Jones' Class Details

Kids Clay - Hand-builders

Session One: Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Jan. 13 to Feb. 17

Session Two: Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., March 3 to April 7

Class fee: $120 members, $130 nonmembers, plus clay cost of $30.

Notes: Come prepared to get dirty and have fun. This class is for kids who like to sculpt. Basic clay hand building techniques - pinch pots, coil, slab, textures, and surface decoration - will be covered. Students will be encouraged to use their observations and imaginations to sculpt several projects that will be fired for them to keep. For ages 6 and up.

Kids Clay - On the Wheel

Session One: Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Jan. 12 to Feb.16.

Session Two: Mondays from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., March 2 to April 6.

Class fees: $120 members $130 non-member plus clay cost of $30.

Notes: Come prepared to get dirty. In this class, students will learn how to throw pots on the potter's wheel. Cups, bowls, saucers and other utilitarian forms will be taught to students as they learn the techniques and skills to throw pots of their very own that will be fired for them to keep and use. Prerequisite for this class is prior clay experience and participants must be 10 years old.